COMMUNITY PLAN TO
END HOMELESSNESS
IN SANTA CLARA
COUNTY
2015-2020
COMMUNITY PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS
access to appropriate
and affordable housing
need to retain it. We
can end homelessness.
HOUSING DEVELOPERS
ENVIRONMENTAL
ADVOCATES
END DESTINATION: HOME
HOMELESSNESS
EDUCATION
LOCAL CITIES
WE KNOW HOW.
LANDLORDS
and the support they
HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS
have
PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS
CITIZENS
residents
PUBLIC
TRANSIT
HOUSING
& SERVICE
PROVIDERS
all
BENEFITS
TRAINING
A community in which
WHO WE ARE
LOCAL
ELECTED
JOB OFFICIALS
WHAT WE
WANT
FAITH
CASE
BASED WORKERS
LAW ENFORCEMENT
EMPLOYERS
ORGANIZATIONS
VA
ABOUT THIS PLAN
This plan exists to create a community-wide roadmap to ending homelessness for the next five
years. This plan will guide governmental actors, nonprofits, and other community members as they
make decisions about funding, programs, priorities, and needs. This plan was created in April-August
2014 after and through a series of community summits related to specific homeless populations and
homeless issues in Santa Clara County, including summits related to:
Youth Families Veterans North County South County Environmental advocates
Discharging institutions (health care, mental health, corrections)
Nonprofit board members Disruptive thinking about housing
An implementation body will use this plan as a guide to create an annual community action plan
that will provide the “how” to this plan’s “what.” In 2014, the annual action plan has been heavily
informed by the information provided by community members at the summits.
2
COMMUNITY PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS
OUR VISION: No one lives outside.
It can happen to anyone: a job loss; a medical condition; missing a rent payment; falling behind and finding that you
have nothing to fall back on. There are many ways someone can become homeless and only one way to really solve it.
Homelessness doesn’t end when we clear out an encampment or when we hand out blankets. Homelessness ends when
everyone has a home.
In our community, a public-private partnership has been formed and already started removing traditional institutional
barriers, creating new ways to provide accessible and affordable housing and defying convention in finding homes for many
people, but there is still more to be done. It is time for our successes to be brought to scale.
Silicon Valley doesn’t give up when there’s a challenge. We solve it.
Over the last decade, Santa Clara County has gradually organized around a community-wide effort to address
homelessness. In 2003, the City of San Jose completed a Homeless Strategy designed to eliminate chronic homelessness
by focusing on prevention, rapid rehousing, wraparound services and proactive efforts. That led to Santa Clara County’s
2005 Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, and the 2008 Blue Ribbon Commission culminating in the establishment of
Destination: Home as the public-private partnership vehicle to implement these strategies, resulting in a 2011 campaign
geared towards ending chronic homelessness. Time and results have taught us that of the strategies laid out in 2003,
access to housing is what works.
We can end homelessness. We know how. Move people into homes and align the support services they need to be
successful and the cycle of homelessness stops.
Over the last two years, our coordinated effort proved that a Housing First model works in Santa Clara County. It
demonstrated what national experts have known for years: it’s cheaper to permanently house someone than to continually
care for them while they live on the street. Lasting inter-agency partnerships have been forged and a new table of local
leadership emerged to tackle our toughest barriers. With the momentum of this short term campaign, a singular question
presented itself, “How many people should we leave on the streets?” The immediate and definitive answer our leaders
delivered was, “None.”
Ten years of progress has brought Santa Clara County to this point in time. We have new collaborative cross sector
partnerships. We have a track record of success with a new housing system. We have new tools to engage both public and
private sector funders. The public is demanding a real solution to homelessness and we are dedicated to delivering one. It’s
time to reimagine homes and rebuild lives. We can end homelessness. This is how we start.
The Destination: Home Leadership Board:
Chris Block
Shannon Giovacchini
Katherine Harasz
Jan Bernstein Chargin
Eleanor Clement Glass
John A. Sobrato
Louis Chicoine
Beau Goldie
Ben Spero
Leslye Corsiglia
Gary Graves
Ted Wang
Frederick J. Ferrer
3
COMMUNITY PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS
HOW CHANGE WILL HAPPEN:
1
DISRUPT
SYSTEMS
Develop disruptive
strategies and
innovative
prototypes that
transform the
systems related to
housing homeless
people.
2
BUILD THE
SOLUTION
Secure the right amount
of funding needed to
provide housing and
services to those who
are homeless and those
at risk of homelessness.
3
SERVE THE
PERSON
Adopt an approach that
recognizes the need for
client-centered strategies
with different responses for
different levels of need and
different groups, targeting
resources to the specific
individual or household.
OUR TARGETS:
CHRONICALLY
HOMELESS:
Be
2,518 Will
Housed
VETERANS:
Be
718 Will
Housed
CHILDREN, YOUTH,
AND FAMILIES:
>2,333
Will Be
Housed
In the 2013 PIT count, 718 veterans
were homeless.
In the 2013 Santa Clara County Point In Time (PIT)
count, there were 2518 chronically homeless people,
not including veterans.
4
In the 2013 PIT count, 1,266 unaccompanied youth under the
age of 25 were identified, of which 164 (13%) were under 18.
Also, there were 1,067 homeless individuals living in 349 families
with at least one child under 18.
One
represents 100 people
COMMUNITY PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS
1
DISRUPT SYSTEMS
ACT FAST. STOP MANAGING AND
START ENDING HOMELESSNESS.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
TRANSFORM
THE WAY
GOVERNMENT
RESPONDS TO
HOMELESSNESS
INCLUDE
THE PRIVATE
SECTOR
AND THE
COMMUNITY IN
THE SOLUTION
HOW WE WILL DO IT
2015
2020
Rethink how government
organizes to respond to
homelessness
Independent, siloed
responses from each
government system, each
focused on one piece of
the puzzle (e.g., health care,
income)
Regionally coordinated
resources and funding with
all systems accountable for
moving people into housing
Ensure people leaving
systems do not become
homeless
Some homeless people
leave systems (corrections,
hospitals, mental health,
foster care) without a next
step in place
At discharge, all individuals
have a plan for permanent
housing and none are
discharged to the streets
Increase access to benefits
for people who are homeless
or at risk of homelessness
In 2013, 35% of homeless
people received no
government benefits
Homeless and at-risk
individuals access all income
and service benefits for which
they are eligible
Increase awareness
People in the private
sector and community
often see homelessness as
an intractable and remote
problem
Community members will
understand their role in
responding to homelessness
and know it is solvable
Increase and align private
resources
Overall, private funding is
unpredictable and working
towards diverse goals
There is a coordinated
funding strategy across the
community, increasing
funding, working towards the
same goals, and relying on
best practices
Provide opportunities
for the business sector to
address homelessness
Businesses, often
unintentionally, create
barriers to ending
homelessness
Businesses are partners
in housing and employing
people who are homeless
Collaborate with community
organizations
Some community groups
target their resources to
short-term responses
Informed community groups
partner with other sectors to
support efforts that end
homelessness
Engage with the
environmental community
to reduce the environmental
impacts of
homelessness
Unsheltered homelessness
negatively impacts the
environment and waterways
and reduces the value of a
community resource
This community has
restored the environment,
providing employment/
housing opportunities for
those formerly living in
encampments
5
COMMUNITY PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS
1
DISRUPT SYSTEMS
WHAT WE ARE DOING
THE BEST
HOMELESS
SYSTEM OF
CARE
2015
HOW WE WILL DO IT
2020
Coordinate housing and
services to connect each
individual with the right
housing solution
Homeless people may call
many providers and sit on
several waiting lists before
they get housed and many
families become homeless
when it could be avoided
People who are homeless
or at risk of homelessness
get connected directly to the
right resource for them
Respond to system
barriers and service gaps
by making the best use of
existing assets
There are many homeless
programs and responses in
this community, but no great
way of knowing what works
best, with lots of people still
living outside
Community-wide, outcomebased decisions about the
best programs and
structures to meet community
needs are made and
implemented
Partner across public and
private sectors to improve
systemic coordination
The private and public sectors
operate independently,
resulting in a patchwork
of funding, priorities, and
outcomes
Private sector and public
sector funding is mutually
supportive, creating a system
of care that’s internally
consistent
Increase provider capacity
Homeless providers
want to end homelessness,
but may not have the
resources to do that
All homeless providers
have sufficient resources
to successfully implement
programs that end
homelessness
Managing
Homelessness
Job Loss
Ending
Homelessness
*
Rent
Increases
6
* Housing First centers on
providing people experiencing
homelessness with housing as quickly
as possible – and then providing services
needed to maintain their housing. This
approach has the benefit of being consistent
with what most people experiencing homelessness
want and seek help to achieve.
COMMUNITY PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS
2
BUILD THE SOLUTION
SCALE THE RESOURCES TO MEET THE NEED.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
CREATE NEW
HOMES AND
OPPORTUNITIES
FOR HOMELESS
MEN, WOMEN,
AND CHILDREN
HOW WE WILL DO IT
2015
2020
Create 6,000 housing
opportunities
There are approximately
6,000 people in our three
target populations who do
not have homes
People who are homeless
have 6,000 more housing
opportunities available to
them
Fund supportive services
for the new housing
opportunities
People who are homeless,
even if they have housing,
often cannot maintain it
without case management,
health care, and financial
services
Each of the 6,000 new
tenants has access to the
services that will allow him or
her to maintain housing
UNIQUE APPROACHES TO UNIQUE POPULATIONS
Affordable Homes
Converted Motels
Permanent
Supportive Housing
Tiny
Houses
7
COMMUNITY PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS
3
SERVE THE PERSON
GIVE PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED, NOT WHAT WE HAVE.
MORE EFFECTIVE, MORE EFFICIENT, MORE HUMANE.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
DIFFERENT
RESPONSES
FOR
DIFFERENT
LEVELS OF
NEED
HOW WE WILL DO IT
2020
Provide permanent
supportive housing to
end chronic homelessness
Many disabled people
who have lived outside,
sometimes for years, need
housing that responds to
their conditions
Chronically homeless people
can access permanent
supportive housing with
intensive case management
and wrap-around services
Expand rapid rehousing
resources to respond to
episodic homeleness
Some people in our
community experience
repeated bouts of
homelessness and are not
able to stabilize with the
resources available to them
Households with barriers
to housing can access a
temporary housing subsidy
and step down services
that are structured to end
homelessness for that
household for good
Prevent homelessness
before it happens
There are not enough
resources available
to help people avoid
homelessness, or avoid
homelessness again
Households at risk of
homelessness have access
to homeless prevention
resources: housing stability
services, emergency
rental assistance, financial
literacy, & landlord/tenant
assistance and employment
assistance and employment
support services: child care,
transportation, job training &
placement
64% of 2013
survey respondents
reported a unique
challenge.
8
2015
UNIQUE CHALLENGES
Mental illness*
Substance abuse
Chronic physical illness
Physical disability
Developmental disability
* Mental illness includes PTSD, depression, and other
mental illnesses including bipolar and schizophrenia.
Note: Multiple response question, numbers will not total
to 100%.
4%
51%
14%
12%
17%
Source: Applied Survey Research. (2013). Santa Clara County Homeless Census & Survey. Watsonville, CA. For more detail or to view the comprehensive report, please visit www.appliedsurveyresearch.org.
COMMUNITY PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS
3
SERVE THE PERSON
WHAT WE ARE DOING
UNIQUE
APPROACHES
FOR UNIQUE
POPULATIONS
HOW WE WILL DO IT
2015
2020
Create bridges and supports
for populations who struggle
to function within the
homeless system of care
Certain populations have
specific barriers to accessing
the resources available
to them to end their
homelessness:
• Veterans
• Persons living with
HIV/AIDS
• Persons with serious
mental ilness
• People with diabilities
Resources support all
homeless subpopulations
to access housing and make
best use of their specific
benefits, employment,
housing opportunities, and
access to food and healthcare
Structure housing and
services to meet the needs of
young people experiencing
homelessness
Youth, children, and families
are failed by several systems
of care when they become
homeless, and young
people are underserved by a
homeless system designed to
meet adult needs
Systems of care work
together to support housing
and services that meet the
needs of families, children,
and youth, including robust
prevention programs
Make resources available in
all parts of the County
North & South County do
not have many housing
options, nor adequate access
to county services, and
transportation is limited
Housing and services are
available to people living in
North & South County, in their
communities
WHAT MIGHT HAVE PREVENTED RESPONDENTS’ HOMELESSNESS
34%
Rent/Mortgage
Assistance
24%
Mental Health
Services
42%
Employment
Assistance
21%
Alcohol/Drug
Counseling
OBSTACLES TO SECURING
PERMANENT HOUSING
No job/ income 54%
No money for moving costs 30%
Bad credit 21%
No housing availability 18%
Source: Applied Survey Research. (2013). Santa Clara County Homeless Census & Survey. Watsonville, CA. For more detail or to view the comprehensive report, please visit www.appliedsurveyresearch.org.
9
COMMUNITY PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS
THANK YOU!
Each summit was attended by a variety of stakeholders that donated their time to
ensure that this plan includes input from the full community.
PLANNING PARTNERS INCLUDED:
Abode Services
Gilroy Compassion Center
ACT for Mental Health
Goodwill of Silicon Valley
Audubon Society
Office of Assemblyman
Rich Gordon
Bill Wilson Center
California Water Boards
Greenbelt Alliance
The Health Trust
Santa Clara County
Creeks Coalition
Santa Clara Valley
Medical Center
Santa Clara Valley
Water District
Office of Supervisor
Joe Simitian
Office of Supervisor
Dave Cortese
HomeAid Northern California
California Youth Connection
HomeFirst
Catholic Charities
of Santa Clara County
Hospital Council of
Northern California
Silicon Valley Children’s Fund
City of Gilroy
Housing Authority of the
County of Santa Clara
Silicon Valley
Community Foundation
Housing Trust Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Community Partnership
City of Milpitas
City of Morgan Hill
City of San Jose
City of Sunnyvale
InnVision Shelter Network
Kaiser Permanente
The County of Santa Clara
Second Harvest Food Bank
Sobrato Philanthropies
South County Collaborative
The Commonwealth Club
Law Foundation of
Silicon Valley
Community Solutions
Purissima Hills Water District
Sunnyvale Community Services
Community Technology Alliance
Restore Coyote Creek
Swords to Plowshares
Community Working Group
St. Joseph’s Family Center
United Way Silicon Valley
The David & Lucille
Packard Foundation
St. Mary Parish Gilroy
Valley Homeless
Healthcare Program
Destination: Home
Downtown Streets Team
Family Supportive Housing, Inc.
San Jose State University
Stanford Hospital
Santa Clara Adult Education
Veterans Administration, Palo Alto
Healthcare System
Santa Clara County Office
of Reentry Services
Water and Power Law Group PC
West Valley Community Services
10
COMMUNITY PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS
Taking this plan forward,
THE 2014 IMPLEMENTATION GROUP INCLUDES:
Alison Brunner, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
Kate Severin, Department of Veterans Affairs
Beth Leary, Family Supportive Housing
Katherine Harasz, Housing Authority
of the County of Santa Clara
Chris Elias, Santa Clara Valley Water District
Eileen Richardson, Downtown Streets Team and
Community Technology Alliance
Kevin Zwick, Housing Trust Silicon Valley
Ky Le, County of Santa Clara
Elise Cutini, Silicon Valley Children’s Fund
Leslye Corsiglia, City of San Jose
Ellen Clear, The David and
Lucile Packard Foundation
Louis Chicoine, Abode Services
Erin Gilbert, Charles and Helen
Schwab Foundation
Erin O’Brien, Community Solutions
Frederick J. Ferrer, The Health Trust
Javier Aguirre, Santa Clara County Office
of Reentry Services
Jeff Ruster, City of San Jose Work2Future
Jennifer Loving, Destination: Home
Jenny Niklaus, HomeFirst
Julie Gantenbein, Water & Power Law Group PC
Karae Lisle, InnVision Shelter Network
Michael Fallon, San Jose State Universtiy
Michael Fox, Goodwill Industries
Poncho Guevara, Sacred Heart
Community Services
Rick Williams, Sobrato Family Foundation
Roberta Rosenthal, Department
of Veterans Affairs
Sara Doorley, Valley Healthcare
for the Homeless
Shiloh Ballard, Silicon Valley
Leadership Group
Sparky Harlan, Bill Wilson Center
Our gratitude to each of you
for your work and dedication
to ending homelessness together.
11
DESTINATIONHOMESCC.ORG